[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 63482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22710]



[[Page 63482]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Public Meetings for Recommending a National Estuarine Research 
Reserve Site[s] in the Atchafalaya River Area of Louisiana

AGENCY: Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of 
Commerce

ACTION: Public meeting notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that two public meetings will be held 
for the purpose of providing information and receiving comments on the 
preliminary recommendation by the State of Louisiana that portions of 
the Atchafalaya River area be proposed to NOAA for designation as a 
National Estuarine Research Reserve.

DATES: The in-person public meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Central Time 
on November 2, 2022, in the Morgan City Auditorium (728 Myrtle Street, 
Morgan City, Louisiana 70380). The virtual public meeting will be held 
at 5 p.m. Central Time on November 3, 2022, at the following link: 
meet.google.com/gya-dsaj-eob. Participants may also join the meeting by 
phone by using this toll-free number +1 470 485 8283, and meeting ID 
749 865 797#.

ADDRESSES: Both public meetings will present the same information.
    The State agency holding the meetings is the Louisiana Coastal 
Protection and Restoration Authority. NOAA's Office for Coastal 
Management will assist with the meetings.
    This meeting will present the State's proposed nomination. Detailed 
information on the proposed site can be found on the following website: 
https://www.laseagrant.org/deltanerr/.
    A presentation about the proposal and the National Estuarine 
Research Reserve System will be provided at both meetings. The views of 
interested persons and organizations regarding the proposed nomination 
are solicited. This information may be expressed verbally and in 
written statements. Written comments may also be sent to: Louisiana 
Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, at [email protected]. All 
written comments must be received no later than seven days following 
the public meetings [November 10, 2022]. All comments received will be 
considered by the state when formally nominating a site or sites to 
NOAA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Erica Seiden, Office for Coastal 
Management, National Ocean Service, NOAA, 1305 East West Highway, N/
OCM, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The research reserve system is a Federal and 
State partnership program administered by the Federal government, 
specifically NOAA. The research reserve system currently has 30 sites 
and protects more than 1.3 million acres of estuarine and Great Lakes 
habitat for long-term research, monitoring, education, and stewardship. 
Established by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, each reserve is 
managed by a lead State agency or university, with input from local 
partners. NOAA provides partial funding and national programmatic 
guidance.
    This particular site selection effort is a culmination of several 
years of local, grassroots-support for a research reserve in Louisiana. 
The proposed site[s] presented at this meeting follow a comprehensive 
evaluation process that sought the views of the public, affected 
landowners, and other interested parties. State and local agency 
representatives, Tribal nations, as well as estuarine experts, served 
as committee members and evaluated site proposals.

Keelin S. Kuipers,
Deputy Director, Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-22710 Filed 10-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P